Cigarette Smoking is Dangerous to your Sexual Health

According to a 2006 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 22% of high school students in American smoke cigarettes every day. Indeed, although the study showed that smoking had already fallen over the past four years, the statistics still show that one out of five Americans still smoke cigarettes. A 2005 study showed that more than 20% of adults in the U.S. are smokers. While smoking among high school students have been on a decline since 1997, the rate of teenagers who smoke is equal to and in some cases, higher than in adults. The younger people start smoking, the more likely that they will continue to smoke as an adult. Based on these figures, it is not surprising that smoking is the leading cause of premature deaths in the U.S..

The question is still begging to be asked: Why do teens smoke? Is it due to the influence of the media or because they get in the habit of adults who smoke? Studies show that many teens smoke because they were simply curious about how it would taste or feel like. Others said they believed that smoking was a good way to achieve weight loss. Although the warnings plastered on cigarette packets box clearly says that "Smoking is hazardous to your health," it has not stopped teenagers from experimenting or taking up habit cigarette use.

Medical evidence suggests that cigarette smoking causes an increase in body metabolism and may suppress appetite. But it is important to note that smoking tends to dull the taste buds, despite everything, there may be grounds for "loss of appetite." This argument is somehow supported by the cases of people who gained weight after they stopped smoking. Since their taste buds had already regained their functionality, the former smokers enjoyed their meals more and finally got some roads.

Non-smokers may have found a way to kick the habit, but for thousands if not millions of smokers around the world --- to abolish the peg is still an ongoing struggle. The dependence of smokers to the deadly chemical called nicotine makes it hard for them to stop smoking. Nicotine dependence occurs when chemicals and other cigarette substances reach the brain and activates the pleasure cells that produce humørændrende effects that give smokers short-term pleasure.

The short-term pleasure of smoking or otherwise terminate the clear message that long term use of cigarettes may lead to lung cancer, emphysema and heart failure. Studies also show that smoking has negative effects on male and female sexual health. Several studies show that smoking is related to problems getting and maintaining an erection. Many toxins present in cigarettes especially carbon monoxide, can damage the circulatory system, which prevents the flow of blood into the penis which is necessary for erection. Moreover, smoking is one of the main causes of erectile dysfunction. A study published in the Journal of Urology in 2000 found out that 68% of men with hypertension aged 40-79 experienced erectile dysfunction. At least 45% of these cases were considered serious sexual disorders. High blood pressure in men may lead to low testosterone levels, which is a male hormone that plays a crucial role in sexual arousal. Low testosterone levels lead to decreased arousal and sexual performance. Toxins found in cigarettes can also damage the testes. Smoking can affect sperm and sperm, reducing their mobility and quality. Men who smoke tend to have lower sperm counts and malformed sperm than their non-smoking colleagues.

Many substance founds in cigarettes can damage the ovaries, studies show that women who smoke or have smoked earlier may be difficult to get pregnant with a chance of becoming pregnant has dropped by up to 40% for each menstrual cycle. The longer a woman smoking, the more difficult it will be for her to get pregnant. The effect of smoking on sexual health has been taken for granted since the focus of previous studies has been on the harmful effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system. Understanding the negative effects of smoking on one's sexual health can be a motivation for many to quit smoking. Connecting a program that helps people quit smoking, and hear a doctor about medication that reduces cravings can also assist. Others succeed by using alternative methods such as hypnosis. Although it can be a very hard habit to break, stopping smoking is one of the best things people can do to improve their sex lives and their overall health.